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Kitty Hawk Says "G'Day" to Successful Australia Visit

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040428-03

Release Date: 4/28/2004 11:47:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Christopher Koons, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- More than 5,000 Sailors assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Strike Group departed the port of Fremantle, Australia, April 27, after a five-day visit.

Many Sailors of the Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW-5) team described the visit as one of the most enjoyable in recent Kitty Hawk history.

"It was one of the most successful port visits we've had in the four-and-a-half years I've been on the ship," said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Zachary Perez, leading chief petty officer of Kitty Hawk's morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) division.

The strike group arrived in Fremantle April 22 for a scheduled port visit while conducting its spring cruise. The visit included a short rest and relaxation break, routine voyage maintenance and administrative activities.

Kitty Hawk's brief stay in the Perth and Fremantle areas provided Sailors with the chance to sightsee, shop and enjoy the many activities Western Australia has to offer.

"All the Sailors I've talked to said they enjoyed themselves in Australia," Perez said.

MWR coordinated tours and hotel reservations for Kitty Hawk Sailors, both of which sold pretty well, said Perez.

"The adventure day tour and the Australian rules football game were both big sellers," he said. "All the tours were pretty relaxed, with the Australian tour guides letting Sailors determine their pace."

The number of Sailors who purchased hotel rooms in Australia was significantly higher than during the previous port visits of Kitty Hawk's spring cruise, according to Perez.

"Overall, hotel sales in Australia were higher than in all of the other visits combined," he said. "It was a record-breaker."

Kitty Hawk's MWR also worked alongside MWR Australia to ensure Sailors had a good time on liberty. This partnership was very successful, said Perez.

"The Australian MWR staff was top-notch," he said. "They were very professional and went out of their way to take care of the Sailors."

Some Sailors said they enjoyed observing the native wildlife of Australia.

"I saw native Australian animals such as kangaroos and Koala bears at the Perth Zoo and Koala Park," said Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class Cornelius Klein of Kitty Hawk's metal shop.

It was the friendliness of Australia's people that was most enjoyable, said Klein.

"The people were really nice," he said. "The country has a great environment for Sailors."

Throughout the visit, Kitty Hawk and its Australian hosts fostered this friendly atmosphere through events, such as a reception for Australian dignitaries in the ship's hangar bay on its first night in port, the participation of Kitty Hawk Sailors in Australia's annual ANZAC (Australia/New Zeland Army Corps) Day, which is a national holiday, festivities and tours of the ship for interested Australians.

Other Sailors enjoyed their time at the beach or in their hotel.

"My friends and I bought a room close to the beach," said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Lamar Johnson of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 14. "When we weren't at the beach, we hung out at the hotel."

Johnson said he and his friends also took time out to see Hollywood's new movie releases.

"There was a movie theater nearby, so we went to see 'Kill Bill, Vol. 2,'" he said.

Like Klein, Johnson said he thoroughly enjoyed his time in Australia.

"It was very relaxing, and the weather was great," he said.

This was Kitty Hawk's first visit to Australia since returning from Middle East deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in direct support of the global war on terrorism.

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group, commanded by Rear Adm. James Kelly, is comprised of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, CVW-5, Destroyer Squadron 15 and other embarked units.

Kitty Hawk, which operates out of Yokosuka, Japan, is America's oldest active warship, and the world's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier.